New Haven County Courthouse, New Haven

The New Haven County Courthouse, located on Elm Street in downtown New Haven, is a striking example of early 20th-century civic architecture. Completed in 1917, the courthouse stands proudly at the northwest corner of Elm and Church Streets, directly facing the New Haven Green. Designed by William H. Allen and Richard Williams, the building is a celebrated work of Beaux-Arts architecture, a style chosen through a competitive design process that echoed the ideals of the City Beautiful movement. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 2003.

Constructed with white Vermont marble, the three-story structure features a rectangular form with varying projections and prominent Ionic porticos marking the main entrances. A central raised section adds grandeur to the atrium, which is one of the building’s most elaborately designed spaces. Inside, rich materials such as mahogany, marble, brass, and ornate plasterwork set a tone of stately elegance. Details like brass door knobs engraved with the county seal underline the attention to craftsmanship.

Notable for more than just its architecture, the courthouse has played a role in American legal history. It was the site of Griswold v. Connecticut, the landmark 1965 case that recognized the constitutional right of married women to access birth control. It also hosted the trial of Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, adding to its legacy as a space where major civil rights issues were debated.

In front of the building stands a sculpture by J. Massey Rhind, with a tympanum featuring allegorical figures representing Justice, Victory, Precedence, Accuracy, Common Law, Statutory Law, Progress, and Commerce. To deter nesting hawks—frequent, if unintended, visitors—netting has been discreetly added above the sculpture.